Gloucester County Veteran’s Initiative

Gloucester County Veterans Policy

The purpose of the Veterans Policy is to provide a collaborative partnership among Veterans Administrators, State and County Agencies, volunteers, community-based organizations and medical treatment facilities to assist veterans in the criminal justice system who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and psychological or substance abuse problems. The program is open to veterans who have received an honorable or general discharge from the United States military. The goals are to protect the public; reduce veteran contacts with the criminal justice system; reduce the number of incarcerated veterans; reduce costs to the public; and provide services and support for veterans.

Gloucester County Law Enforcement Agencies will be trained to identify veterans upon initial contact and notify the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office (GCPO). Jail Authorities will assist incarcerated veterans with a referral application for services referred by Catholic Charities, veterans agencies and other providers. Criminal Case Management will employ the Court's Veterans Assistance Project and provide applications for legal representation for the Public Defender's Office. Gloucester County Corrections will assist in determining the veteran's eligibility pre-indictment under their HED program.

GCPO Attorneys will review criminal charges, make charging decisions, and work with a veteran's attorney to resolve the criminal case. All screening decisions are at the sole discretion of the Prosecutor's Office.

Veterans Referral Application

Guide to VA Mental Health Services for Veterans & Families

A Resource Guide for NJ's Military, Veterans and Families

NJ Veterans' Benefits Guide

Take the Next Steps

Veterans Diversion Resource Entities Directory

Partners

During the veteran's experience in the criminal justice process, the Veteran will be assisted by one or more of the following anticipated partners:

  • Catholic Charities
  • Division of Mental Health Service
  • Gloucester County Corrections
  • Gloucester County Police Chief's Association
  • Gloucester/Camden Regional Office of the NJ Department of Military Services and Veterans Affairs
  • NJ Department of Human Services
  • NJ Department of Labor, including:
    • Gloucester County Department of Veterans Affairs
    • Gloucester County Mental Health Crisis Intervention
    • Gloucester County One Stop
    • Inspira Health System
  • NJ State Parole Board
  • Volunteer Veteran Mentors
  • Volunteers of America

Volunteer Veteran Mentors

Volunteer Veteran Mentors will be recruited and trained to support veterans through the criminal justice system while assisting in their individual treatment plans. The Volunteer Veteran Mentor is intended to encourage, guide and support the mentee. Mentors must be a veteran of one of the branches of the U.S. military (or their corresponding Reserve or Guard branches), including the:

  • Air Force
  • Army
  • Coast Guard
  • Marine Corps
  • Navy

NEW JERSEY STATE PAROLE BOARD VETERAN AFFAIRS PROCESS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS DIVISION (CPD)

The following will provide a summary of most veteran related resources to guide and inform our District Offices, staff and their veterans in the support of their benefits. The Community Programs Division is prepared to assist with all benefits and services. Initial steps to help themselves must be taken by the veteran.

New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) - http://www.state.nj.us/military/ This State Department provides total support to our National Guard and all veterans in NJ. This includes but is not limited to all state benefits, links to federal benefits and support, and all related veteran assistance. State and local certified Service Officers are available to assist and consult with all services.

• New Jersey Service Officers: http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/state-service-offices/ 

• County Service Officers: http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/county-service-offices/ 

Request for Military Records

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs maintains and archives many military records of current and former members of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard. Additionally, the Department maintains and archives numerous discharge records of former Service Members of Active Duty and Reserve Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force who were residents of the State of New Jersey upon discharge from the military. A copy of a Service Member’s discharge records are normally sent to the State that the Service Member called home on the day after his/her discharge. The State from where a Service Member was born, trained and/or discharged from does not guarantee that the Department would have these records. Please note that the Department did not start receiving these discharge records until after 1995 or later. See for additional information - http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/

For further information see - http://www.state.nj.us/military/iasd/military-records-requests/. Also visit the National Personnel Records Center website for your records request. You can also call 866-272-6272, or write The National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.

NJVET2VET – Total NJ Hotline for all subjects. Call 866-838-7654. See - http://ubhc.rutgers.edu/call_center/peer_support/vet2vet.html.

• A PowerPoint presentation is available for additional information.

Veteran Peer Support - Veteran Peer Support does not fix anything, but it offers an opportunity for a Veteran caller to normalize and relate. At times, it is seen that sharing can foster the insight to others strengths as a basis for the peer support experience.

Family Support - The helpline offers support to family members that may be experiencing a difficult situation. For example, a family member who experiences a loved returning home from a combat deployment may be confused of how to go about supporting their loved. Veteran Peers are available who have participated in overseas deployments.

Case Management - Four steps are involved in reciprocal peer support which are: connection, information gathering, case management, and affirmation and praise. Case management pertains to individuals looking to be linked to community resources. Once linked, we like to keep in touch to see if the resource was helpful and what are the goals.

SUICIDE - If you see any veteran that is having a hard time coping with their normal daily lives and/or cannot “fit” or adjust to society, or is actually saying they want to take their life, please call the VA’s Military and Veterans Confidential Help Line at 1-800-273-8255, PRESS 1! Or text 838255. For all other non-life threatening veteran affairs matters call the NJ’s funded VET2VET Confidential Peer Support at 1-866-838-7654, staffed by veterans 24/7.

VA (Veteran Administration) Services –

• East Orange: 973-676-1000; http://www.newjersey.va.gov/.

• Lyons: 908-647-0180; http://www.newjersey.va.gov/.

o Veterans Justice Outreach Program. - https://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp, Mark Correale.

• Philadelphia: 800-949-1001; (1) http://www.philadelphia.va.gov/.

o Veterans Justice Outreach Program - https://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp, Margaret Maynard, Dena Dandridge, Kevin Carr-Lemke.

• Wilmington: 800-461-8262; http://www.wilmington.va.gov/.

o Veterans Justice Outreach Program - Cecilia Gonzalez, John Walter.

• Community Based Outpatient Clinics: A Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is a VA-operated clinic or a VA-funded or reimbursed health care facility or site that is geographically distinct or separate from the parent medical facility.

o Brick: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/brick.asp.

o Cape May: http://www.wilmington.va.gov/locations/Cape_May_County_Community_Based_Outpatient_Clinic.asp.

o Camden: http://www.philadelphia.va.gov/locations/Camden_NJ_Community_Based_Outpatient_Clinic_CBOC.asp.

o Elizabeth: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Elizabeth.asp.

o Hackensack: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Hackensack.asp.

o Hamilton: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Hamilton.asp.

o Jersey City: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/JerseyCity.asp.

o Marlton: http://www.philadelphia.va.gov/locations/Burlington_County_VA_Clinic.asp.

o Morristown: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Morristown.asp.

o Newton: https://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Sussex.asp.

o Northfield: http://www.wilmington.va.gov/locations/Atlantic_County_Community_Based_Outpatient_Clinic.asp.

o Paterson: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Paterson.asp.

o Piscataway: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Piscataway.asp.

o Sewell: http://www.philadelphia.va.gov/locations/Gloucester_County_NJ_Community_Based_Outpatient_Clinic_CBOC.asp.

o Sussex: https://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Sussex.asp.

o Tinton Falls: http://www.newjersey.va.gov/locations/Tinton_Falls.asp.

o Vineland: http://www.wilmington.va.gov/locations/Cumberland_County_Community_Based_Outpatient_Clinic.asp.

Vet Centers - are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services including professional readjustment counseling to Veterans and families, military sexual trauma counseling, and bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death.

• Bloomfield: http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=943&dnum=All.

• Ewing: http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5094&dnum=All.

• Lakewood: http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5935&dnum=All.

• Secaucus: http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5304&dnum=All.

• Ventnor: http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?ID=5015&dnum=All.

Employment –

• Employment & Other Related Partners include:

• The American Legion, Department of New Jersey web site - http://njamericanlegion.org/joblistings.html, for employment, workshops, current events, etc.

• GIGO Fund – GI Go Fund aids all military veterans, with a focus on veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, by helping them find employment, access housing, and secure their education and health benefits. See - • https://www.gigo.org/how-we-help/index.html. • https://yourjobpath.com/.

• Sansone Auto Group - http://www.sansoneauto.com/careers.cfm. Sansone has a concentrated military and veteran ex-offender training, internship, job shadowing, and hiring program. See – http://sansonemilitaryprogram.com/.

• Camden Catholic Charities – Call – 856-701-5777. See - http://catholiccharitiescamden.org/veteran-services/.

Homelessness & Financial Assistance -

• National Call Center – 877-424-3838. See https://www.va.gov/homeless/nationalcallcenter.asp. Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness—and their family members, friends and supporters—can make the call to or chat online with the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, where trained counselors are ready to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Community Hope – Hotline 855-483-8466, e-mail ssvfnj211.org. See - http://www.communityhope-nj.org/.

• Veterans Haven South – Call 609-561-0269 or 609-567-5806. See - http://www.nj.gov/military/vetshaven/.

• Veterans Haven – North – Call 877-648-0091. See - http://www.nj.gov/military/veteranshavennorth/.

• Soldier On - Call 866-406-8449. See - http://www.wesoldieron.org/.

• Camden Catholic Charities – Call – 856-342-4100. See - http://catholiccharitiescamden.org/veteran-services/.

• Paterson Catholic Charities – Hotline 855-767-8387. See http://www.catholicharities.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=163:veterans-services&catid=34:cc-paterson&Itemid=141.

• North Hudson Action Corp. Call - 201-366-8443. See - http://nhcac.org/supportive-services-for-veterans-families-2/.

• Veterans Multi-Service Center. Call - 215-923-2600. See - http://www.vmcenter.org/.

• VOA, Home For The Brave – Call – 856-854-0651. See - http://www.voadv.org/home-for-the-brave.

• Welcome Home Vets of NJ - http://www.welcomehomevetsofnj.org/.

Pro Bono Resources for Veterans, Legal Aide –

https://www.va.gov/ogc/docs/LegalServices.pdf.

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/veterans_benefits/pro_bono_resources_for_veterans.html.

• Northwest Jersey - https://www.lsnj.org/lsnwj/.

• South Jersey - https://www.lsnj.org/sjls/.

https://www.lsnj.org/pdfs/vlap.pdf

NJ Attorney Generals’ Offices of Division of Civil Rights(DCR) and Consumer Affairs (DCA). DCR seminars started several years ago, and the first DCA “table top” took place at the Business Workshop in Camden County. Veterans have separate and distinct civil rights. See http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcr/index.html, or call 609-984-3136 (Trenton), 856-614-2563 (Camden), 973 648-4826 (Newark). See http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/, or call 800-242-5846 for any consumer affairs matters.

Engage VSO’s – Work one-on-one with VSO’s and our veteran paroles. Provide a list of “friendly” veteran paroles VSO’s, introduce, support, consult and track.

Additional Outreach – CPD will distribute all employment, homelessness and education related events to District Offices, including Business Workshops, Stand Downs, VA Town Halls, Bridging the Gap GIGO Fund programs, and pertinent information.

RWL, 11/9/16 original issue, current revision 5/8/18 (8th).

Additional Resources


Gloucester County Offices at Five Points
211 County House Road Sewell, New Jersey 08080 
(856)401-7660
(856)232-1836 FAX
vets@co.gloucester.nj.us 

 

Gloucester County VA Clinic
211 County House Road, Sewell, NJ 08080
1-877-823-5230

 

Philadelphia Veterans Medical Center

3900 Woodland Avenue

Philadelphia, Pa 19104

(215) 823-5800

 

Catholic Charities

Marcus Biddle (856) 214-1477

Biddle@CamdenDiocese.org

 

New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs

Paul McIntyre, VSO

(856) 405-4388

 

Veterans Multi Service Center

Peter Wine, SSVF housing Coordinator

(856) 293-7321 or cell (302)304-5188

 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Mark Correale, LICSW

(908) 647-0180 x 5126

 

New Jersey State Parole

John Marolt, Veterans Initiative Coordinator

(609) 381-7628

John.marolt@spb.state.nj.us      

 

Vet Haven South 

301 Spring Garden Rd, Winslow NJ 08095

(609) 561-0269

 

Department of Veterans Affairs, Gloucester Co

Willis H. Gray, Jr. CVSO

(856) 401-7660

wgray@co.gloucester.nj.us

 

Camp Salute

Bernadette Blackstock

(856) 579-7561

 

Veteran Services Office Gloucester County

Woodbury Armory

658 N Evergreen Avenue, Woodbury, NJ 08096  

Joseph Frost (856) 853-4184 / 4185 / 4186 Email: Joseph.Frost@dmava.nj.gov

 

Gloucester County Social Services

400 Hollydell Drive

Sewell, NJ 08080

856-582-9200

 

Gloucester County Mental Health Services

(856) 384-6889

Emergency Screening: (856) 845-9100

 

Volunteers of America

531 Market St.

Camden, NJ 08102

856-854-4660

 

Gloucester County Senior Services at Budd Blvd

856-384-6900

115 Budd Blvd 

West Deptford, NJ 08096

 

The State VFW

Building #5 2nd Floor

171 Jersey St

Trenton, NJ 08611

Phone 609-393-1929

Fax.    609-393-3031

 

The American Legion 

Building #5 2nd Floor

171 Jersey St.

Trenton, NJ 08611

609-695-5418

 

The NJ DAV

Building #5 2nd Floor

171 Jersey St.

Trenton, NJ 08611

609-396-2885

 

Veterans Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255

 

Cumberland Co VA Clinic

79 W Landis Ave

Vineland, NJ 08360

1-800-461-8262

X6500

 

Veterans Crisis Line 

1-800-273-8255 then press 1

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD): 1-800-829-4833


People for People

P.O. Box 256

Mullica Hill, NJ 08062

856-579-7561

https://welcome.pfpfoundation.org